TMC to host National 'Day of Dance for Your Health'

Thomasville Medical Center, along with over 75 other hospitals across the United States, wants the community to "get their dance on" at the National Day of Dance for Your Health event Saturday.

Thomasville Medical Center, along with over 75 other hospitals across the United States, wants the community to "get their dance on" at the National Day of Dance for Your Health event Saturday. Day of Dance is a national program of the Spirit of Women Hospital. Thomasville Medical Center and other Spirit of Women Hospitals across the country are taking a stand against heart disease. This event combines the fun of dancing to different kinds of music, such as rock 'n' roll, jazz, salsa, swing and hip-hop with health screenings and consumer education on heart disease and other important health topics.This is the second year that Thomasville Medical Center has hosted the Day of Dance. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at Thomasville Senior High School gym at 410 Unity St.Community partners at the event include the Tom A Finch Community YMCA, Communities In Schools of Thomasville, Davidson County Health Department, Thomasville Parks and Recreation Department, Thomasville City Schools, Move More and N.C. Cooperative Extension. KOOL radio will do a live remote from the event, and a YouTube video will be filmed as well. Nationwide, more than 75,000 people are expected to dance for their health Saturday."Day of Dance has inspired millions of consumers to change their lifestyle over the past nine years," said nurse Sue Seymour, Women's Heart Center coordinator. "This unique program brings together community leaders, media and businesses to teach families about healthy choices they can easily incorporate into their daily lives. It also helps people understand their personal risk factors for heart disease and stroke, all while having fun and learning new dance moves. Be sure and wear comfortable clothes to dance and move."The event will include dancing, screenings and other activities to immediately inspire people to be their own health advocate. Coronary heart disease, which causes heart attack, is the single leading cause of death for American men and women. Day of Dance also educates consumers on a variety of cardiovascular conditions such as atrial fibrillation, stroke and more. Thomasville Medical Center's Day of Dance focuses on dance as a way to take steps for a healthier life because dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking or riding a bike (as many as 200-400 calories per hour). Many health benefits may result from dance if it is done on a regular basis as a form of exercise. Benefits include weight maintenance or weight loss, blood pressure and cholesterol management (lowering), increased energy, decreased sadness and depression, increased coordination and muscle strength, and an overall sense of well-being.For more information, call 476-2442.